Spokane Mayor Fires City Attorney

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Spokane Mayor David Condon has fired CityAttorney Howard Delaney. The Spokesman-Review reports that Spokane lawyer Nancy Isserlishas been appointed to replace Delaney. Isserlis is a formerchairwoman of the city's Ethics Commission. City spokeswoman Marlene Feist said Condon informed Delaney ofthe change on Thursday. The city's legal department has been scrutinized over itshandling of several recent cases. Most recently, the City Councilrejected a proposed settlement for fired police Sgt. Brad Thoma,who was terminated in 2009 after an off-duty drunken driving andhit-and-run incident. He protested that the city was discriminating against him forbeing an alcoholic. City administrators agreed to rehire Thoma andgive him $275,000 in back pay but the council rejected the deal. A lawyer for Thoma has sued the city. Feist says the change was not about any "single issue." Delaney was not immediately reachable for comment.